Jesus demands no help from us. He asks only to give to us. But, accepting undeserved gifts presents surprising challenges. Some say you can't survive the real world following an invisible God. The truth is, He offers the only safe passage through the mess.
I published Call for News every week for almost 5 years, exclusively in-house, for Mission Aviation Fellowship. When my assignment changed, I put the column into hibernation. Now, it not only reawakens, but also speaks to a wider audience. So, as always, I'm curious. How do you see Jesus' Good News playing out in your life and the world around you?
Feb 07
2010
Watching sunrise, 39,000’ over the Rockies. The first light pinks cloud tops below, that turn to orange, then white. The land moves up to mountains poking through brightening clouds, down into valleys still filled with morning mist, then up again. The cycles of day and night, mountain and valley close their circles [...] [...more]
Posted: under Call for News.
Tags: Art, circle, cycle, free will, friend, Jesus, mist, mountain
Watching sunrise, 39,000’ over the Rockies. The first light pinks cloud tops below, that turn to orange, then white. The land moves up to mountains poking through brightening clouds, down into valleys still filled with morning mist, then up again. The cycles of day and night, mountain and valley close their circles – just like me. I come to bury a friend.
Art Loomis knew me in the early days when I first followed Jesus. My life swerved and screeched like an old truck with loose steering and soft brakes on a mountain road. Every time I veered for the edge he’d appear with exactly the right word. Instead of sailing off into the abyss, I’d crash into his guard rail and bounce back onto the road.
Later we worked together – he the chemist, me the pilot. Art flew nearly as often as the boss but with a big difference. Art loved the idea of flying. His body hated the practice. When I raised the nose for takeoff, Art scrunched down, eyes squeezed shut. He uncoiled only when all 3 tires rolled on the ground once more. But he returned, flight after flight.
Then, I moved to the Amazon jungle and he to Colorado. His ministry grew from small circle to big, from few to many. That he followed Jesus was not so remarkable as how he followed Him. Art didn’t just do good deeds. Rather, he invested himself into every life that entered his sphere. Neither location, circumstance nor hours accumulated mattered. Only the promise of freeing a heart held him.
As we descend into Denver, I have to ask, “Now what?” Do I just say, “Thanks, that was nice,” and go on my way? After all, Jesus saved us by grace and commanded us to live by grace. Life’s all about seeing Him work, isn’t it? But the truth is, He also gave us free will. Sometimes, the ball lands in our court. And we have to choose: watch it go by or take a swing?
So, how do you allow the investments in your life to bear fruit?
Jan 18
2010
Some debate the length of God’s first seven days, but He made two things clear. He created time first, by declaring a beginning. Then, He fashioned everything else within the rhythm of its measured pace.
He granted us free movement through space – left or right, forward or back, climb or dive. On the other [...] [...more]
Posted: under Call for News.
Tags: Jesus, new, new year, rebirth, time
Some debate the length of God’s first seven days, but He made two things clear. He created time first, by declaring a beginning. Then, He fashioned everything else within the rhythm of its measured pace.
He granted us free movement through space – left or right, forward or back, climb or dive. On the other hand, He denied us willful motion through time – no ambling earlier, nor racing later. And, no standing still in the moment, either. He strapped us firmly into the one-way, monospeed, nonsteerable, brakeless time-ride. Now, because our calendar says so, we mark the passing of another year. So, what do 12 pages have to do with anything? Seems artificial, almost arbitrary.
Turns out, He placed days and years as signs along the highway. Some, like birthdays, mark traffic flow. Others read like the old Burma Shave slogans with messages of what lies ahead – if you want to eat, plant now. All good to know, but, the recurring cycles mark the most important news. Each new year declares that Jesus replaces old nature with new. He never mutters, remodel, fix, or patch. Rather he shouts, rebirth, new start, and second chance.
So, I’m curious, how does He ask you to manage your portion of creation’s one fixed asset?
